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Being left behind using a rare train or bus?

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GodAtum

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Let's say there is a train or bus every hour but you are unable to get on because it is full. What would you do? Espically is you are stuck somewhere rural it might be very hard to get a taxi.
 
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table38

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Also I'd note where the bus or train had stopped last time, so I can be stood near the door(s) and make sure I'm first in the queue to get on the next one :)

Disclaimer: Unless it's an hourly service with the same driver, this technique doesn't always work for buses, and for trains may be an issue up here with random 142, 150 and 156 turning up where the doors are in a different place!
 

GrimsbyPacer

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I wondered this also. Every time I miss my last train connection thanks to my other train being late I complain and a free taxi gets me home before the train I missed.

If the last train from Kirton Lindsey is full for example and you can't fit on and there's no pub for other a mile and there's no staff or phone to use. What happens?? Would you wait til next Saturday??

The most infrequent buses are run by Royal Mail in some very rural locations. But I know of Stagecoach buses that run every 2 hours, three or two times a day that are the only service in a place with nothing like a pub. Cabourne near Caistor for example has a farm and a few houses. Nothing to do there except hill climbing.
 

sprinterguy

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If the last train from Kirton Lindsey is full for example and you can't fit on and there's no pub for other a mile and there's no staff or phone to use. What happens?? Would you wait til next Saturday??
There's a bus that will get you back to "civilisation" (a relative term ;)) in Scunthorpe. Granted that if you miss the last Sheffield bound train then you'd still be waiting for a bus until Monday, though. ;) A quick check suggests that there are at least two pubs in Kirton Lindsey anyway, one of which offers accommodation. Or even just borrow their phone to summon a taxi. I also refute the idea that they are "over a mile" a way, which even if they are, with nothing but time on your hands is hardly a barrier.

If all else fails, though, start walking. Wherever railways are there's usually going to be some sort of settlement within half a days march at most. This might be less plausible and quite gruelling if you were relying on the last Postbus of the day in rural Scotland when you have already completed a long day's hike, but you'll have earned a good rest at the end of it. ;)
 
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cuccir

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There's a few remote stops that the BBC recently explored . I guess people are unlikely to be genuinely stuck at these, as the buses are unlikely to ever get so full that they leave people!

Internationally, of course, this is a much more common problem - bus travel is notorious in Sub-Saharan Africa for being a case of 'turn up and hope'. I was in Albania in the summer and used the 'furgon' (described here) to travel between Girjrokaster and Sarranda. Basically, you turn up at the bus stop, the furgons pass, and if there's space and they're going to the right place, you can get on! The first two which passed us were full, but we got a space on the third. Here, there may be a danger of being stuck, but there were taxi drivers around who offered to do the trip for about €30 which we had as a fall back!
 

yorkie

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What would you do?
Depends! I'd walk/cycle/wait/bus depending on the circumstances!

I saw a train from Burnley Central to Colne was cancelled, so I cycled from Burnley instead of Colne. Not quite the same thing, but the same principle. I was cycling to Skipton anyway and certainly didn't want to sit around at Burnley Central for an hour! It just meant the ride was a bit longer than I'd planned.

On another occasion there were too many bikes for a train to Snaith (which has very few trains!), but the Guard asked everyone for their destination, those of us for Snaith were given priority and those for places like Knottingley had to wait.<D

I was unable to board a train at Porthmadog heading towards Pwllheli. We were actually wanting to go to Barmouth, but were going via Pwllheli rather than hang around. The Guard wouldn't let us board because it was too full (an unfolded pushchair was allowed to board though) and we didn't want to hang around for ages and risk not getting on the train to Barmouth. So we cycled to Barmouth from Porthmadog.

I was unable to board one of the last trains from Man Vic to Castleton because it was too full, so was unable to get a lift I'd arranged with crossover from Castleton to Huddersfield, I ran to Man Picc, and got TPE from there. My ticket was routed via Hebden Bridge but no-one appeared to charge an excess, so it didn't cost me any extra.
 

Bletchleyite

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Let's say there is a train or bus every hour but you are unable to get on because it is full. What would you do? Espically is you are stuck somewhere rural it might be very hard to get a taxi.

If I know it's workable from the timetable, take it (paid-for) one stop the wrong way, or all the way to the terminus, so I have a chance of boarding the next one. That's my usual trick if trying to board the Tube or DLR at Canary Wharf in the peak.

Neil
 

GodAtum

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Last year the Marlow - Maidenhead service was cancelled so had a 1 hour wait with lots of other people on the platform.
 

PaxVobiscum

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I was unable to board a train at Porthmadog heading towards Pwllheli. We were actually wanting to go to Barmouth, but were going via Pwllheli rather than hang around. The Guard wouldn't let us board because it was too full (an unfolded pushchair was allowed to board though) and we didn't want to hang around for ages and risk not getting on the train to Barmouth. So we cycled to Barmouth from Porthmadog.

I'd certainly have gone to the pub in Porthmadog station. :)
 

yorkie

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I'd certainly have gone to the pub in Porthmadog station. :)
If there was a guarantee we'd get on the train with our bikes, I think we'd have done likewise. That said, it was a nice day and the ride was very scenic, so no regrets!
 

sprinterguy

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Oi!

Anyway ..... I can think of worse places (such as Brumingham :P) to have a steady pint or 2 while waiting for my free taxi :lol:
'Ere now, we have a fine selection of decent boozers to while away the hours here in the celestial city. :p
 
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